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last updated 5:40PM Eastern Time, 5/3/2001 Week Sixteen Journal During the sixteenth week, the Smot Scales continued to track David's progress. Lots of good stories continue to roll in from friends. Dave had a busy weekend with an Avalanche game, a Rockies game and a Bon Jovi concert!
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9:00am Eastern Time, 4/29/2001 The Good Doctor has returned with his weekly evaluative results from careful observation of our subject, young David Smethurst. Oh, and it seems they played golf, too. Here are the updates along with another scale (or two)? All indicators seem to be quite positive. It seems we will not begin to measure any right arm action until the Virginia rehab takes place. Our hopes are still high but there is little muscle/neuron connection there to date. I took Dave out to the golf course yesterday. Englewood has a handicapped golfing program and has two (or more) handicap golf carts that assist in getting the golfer in the right position to hit a ball. He hit his wedge for about a half-hour, first right-handed but then found it easier to get a better swing left-handed. He then putted for 15 minutes (not bad as a lefty) and he went to Burger King for lunch. All in all a great outing on a gorgeous, sunny day. DAD
Verbal expression (1-5 points within each category of expression): 100 points
Visual
expression
(visual identification, reading and writing)
100 points
Living
Independence Measure (LIM – modified): 1-7 scale 161 points
8:30am Eastern Time, 5/1/2001 Cheers to all! This is a great message from Chris Ebel. I thought I'd drop you a line to tell you about some of my recent visits (old and new) with Dave. I was sad last night as I drove away from Craig. Yesterday marked the end of a weekend ritual of trekking to Denver to spend a few hours with my Homey. (Unfortunately, I will be out of town the next two weekends and will miss his sendoff to the East Coast.) As I drove home, I thought a lot about my visits with Dave and the progress he has made. By the time I got back to Boulder, I was feeling great. In just two short months, I realized, Dave has come a long, long way! I was scared when I made that first visit to see Dave at St. Luke's. I had been following Dave's progress both on the website and through friends but didn't really know what to expect. I shared that same fear many others have experienced, "Will he know who I am? What should I say?" He was in noticeable discomfort and not responsive to visitors. He may have looked me in the eye once and, when he did, there was no indication he recognized me. It was so depressing. I felt so awkward trying to converse with him. If it weren't for your awesome parents, I might not have had the courage to go back. I guess they sensed my distress. They quickly came in for the rescue: explaining why Dave was so unresponsive and encouraging future visits. So, I went back that Wednesday. When I arrived, your Dad was feeding him dinner. He asked me to wait in the hall until he finished. The doctors had taken him off whatever medicine was causing the nausea and he had regained his appetite for the first time. What a difference a little spaghetti makes! When he finished, your Dad called me into the room, a big smile came across Dave's face upon eye contact! What a feeling of relief! I still wasn't sure he knew who I was but just to see him smiling, free of any observable pain, was uplifting! That was the moment I knew Dave was really going to recover. Although his physical and mental skills were impaired, his spirit was intact. The Dave we all know and love was in that damaged body and it was just gonna take some time for him to relearn how to use all its parts. Dave was at St. Luke's for maybe another week before he moved over to Craig. I tried to get over there once a weekend for a visit. Each time I did, I noticed improvement from the week before. Each week he became more like the old Dave. He has gradually become more or less autonomous. He can get himself out of his bed, into his wheelchair, to the bathroom, into the car, he has no problem feeding himself (except for foods which require a knife). Each week has brought improvement to his communication skills. He seems to have no problem following conversations and responding to yes/no questions. Just the past few weekends he has started answering more specific questions that require worded answers, such as, "Who won the Rockies game?" He responded, "The Avalanche." So, he got his games mixed up. He went to both an Av's game and a Rockies game this weekend. The highlight of his progress for me came last weekend. I had the good
fortune of being invited to accompany Dave on one his dinner outings.
Dave, your Dad, Brian Green (an old Beach crony living in Steamboat),
and I went on a mission to find steak. We ended up at a random Hot Shoppes-type
place in South Denver. Again, he didn't have much trouble getting himself
around. It was just four dudes out having a good time. As Brian and I
shared some of our old beach stories, Dave followed along, laughing at
some of the stupid stuff we've done. At one point in our conversation,
Dave reached over and tapped me on the shoulder. Up until this point,
he had only been a passive participant, alertly following along, but only
joining in when a yes/no question was directed his way. But no longer,
he was confused on something and needed some clarification. So, again,
he tapped me on the shoulder, and looking right into my eyes said, "Hey,
Barn...(tries once to finish the sentence)....(tries twice to finish the
sentence) ..... Ahhhhhhh!" He couldn't quite get it out. He knew
exactly what he wanted to ask but he just couldn't spit it out. He tried
a couple more times with your Dad's encouragement but he got frustrated
and gave up. Although it was difficult to see him struggle, I can't tell
you how pumped I was to hear him say my name! - it came out clear as bell,
just as he always said it. Not only was it the first time he has tried
initiating a conversation with me, but, after two months of being only
99% sure he remembered me from before his accident, I was now a complete
believer. A lingering 1% doubt that I wasn't the old Barney to him, but
a new Barney who comes to visit him in the hospital, had been nagging
at me. I know it sounds trivial but the implications are far-reaching.
I am now confident that all those great times we shared together are not
lost. They are still in his long term memories! So, in an admittedly selfish way, I am sad to see Dave go. I will miss the rest of your family as well. I have grown quite fond of your parents and have seen Kathy and Brook more in the last two months than I have seen them in the last ten years. While I am disappointed the Denver portion of Dave's rehab is coming to an end, I am incredibly encouraged by the progress he has made in the short time he has been here. I already look forward to seeing him later this summer and fully expect him to tell me what he was trying to ask me over dinner last weekend. Have a great time at your wedding! Don't do anything I wouldn't do. -Barney 12:00am Eastern Time, 5/2/2001 Hey! Here's a great report from Guy Arnold, one of Dave's old Woodberry and Denver buddies. The Kid is back!
After everyone got settled, Matt asked Dave "Can I get you anything? How about a hot dog or something?" Dave gave Matt that classic Smot look with a smirk on his face and said, clearly and simply, "Beer". Dave knew what the response was going to be before he asked, but, being Dave he had to ask! Matt replied, "Well, I don't know if we can do that..", so Dave very clearly said "O.K....Coke". I'll tell you, that "beer" response from Dave should relieve anyone's thoughts as to whether Dave is "100% in there". Clearly he knew exactly where he was, and even more so said it knowing that his beverage of choice was not an option. It was his own way to tell us, "Hey, I'm in here and just wanted to let you know that while things may have changed a little, it's still me as ever." So, Dave, Matt and I watched the game together, had hot dogs, a coke or two, and basically relaxed in the sun. To me, the best part of the day was just being with Dave in a relaxed atmosphere, doing something that he loves to do---"being with the boys". Matt and I told (way too many) old stories about things we have done with Dave, from going out, to playing golf, and also told a few jokes. I would say there were at least three or four times that Dave fell forward in his chair because he was laughing so hard from remembering an old story or joke. He was clearly engaged at all times with us, while at the same time was focused on the game. For instance, any time the Rockies would score or make a good play, Dave would give us a high-five and give his Smot left-handed "point" to the Rockies infield. Another time, I was telling Matt about my unorthodox (read: screwed up) golf swing. Dave looked at Matt and said, "Yep. Uh Huhh!" To this day, he can still give me grief about my golf game! Sometime later, I went and got peanuts and was opening them and giving them to Dave with 1/2 of the shell off. After a while, I quit and went back to watching the game, when I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Dave looking at me, then looking to the peanuts. The look in his eyes said "Hey pal, you may be finished with the peanuts, but not me!". Anyways, just wanted to tell you how much fun Matt and I had with Dave, and also to tell you how ecstatic we were to see Dave so engaged, alert, and clearly having a great time. It was a joy to see him laugh......
8:45AM Eastern Time, 5/2/2001 Hi, again! I just received this message from Kathy. While Mom and Dad take a couple of days off, Kath trotted up to Denver to help out with Dave.
Speech Therapy was the most fun for me as I hadn't sat in since the first day that he was admitted. Jennifer had him chatting away. He told her this morning when she asked what he did last night... "concert".( Bon Jovi) In one word he described the event..."awesome". When asked what time he got home, he correctly replied..."midnight". When she asked who came to therapy with him he said.."Kathy". Don't think that I've ever loved hearing my name as much as I did then. Jennifer then proceeded to ask Dave to "touch" his nose, ears, eyes etc. as well as "point to" the window, the door, the ceiling. He was nailing them. It was the best that she's seen him do she said. It is so touching to see him mull over simple words, crease his brow and sometimes shake his head meaning "I have no idea what a brush is." He tries so hard and seems pleased when he has success. I was really made aware today of the challenges he has both with receptive language and the obvious challenge of expressive language. The beauty is that he is learning every day. The last thing Jennifer was asking him was what he was up to tonight after his big eventful weekend. He responded "Pizza" which was true as Guy Arnold and Matt Nichols were bringing some over for dinner. When asked what his favorite kind was, he responded "pepperoni and sausage". Hope that's what those guys brought over! As I was leaving him to his sports channel ,he asked me to "turn off the light". It's sooo cool to hear his voice and to be able to meet his basic needs without the whole charades game. Oh, one insightful Dave comment came after I complimented him on how hard he works in PT and OT. He shook his head and said "tough". Heck yea Dave, I can't imagine much tougher than what you are going through each day. And to do it with such grace and perseverance. I'm prouder of him today that I was before the accident...and that was pretty hard to top. His team of therapist are incredible to watch and learn from. Can't believe that our inpatient Craig stay is almost over. We're going to miss you guys!! Kathy Thursday, May 3 5:30pm Eastern Time, 5/3/2001 This just in from Matt Baum. I just want to thank everyone in Denver who has been sending these great updates. This has made my job tremendously easy - cut, paste, post! Thanks! -- Jay
I wanted to send you a brief note. I have been away from Dave for a week. I saw him last Wednesday night (4/25) before Marni and I left for our good friends, Joe and Anne's, wedding in Little Rock on the 26th. I had a good visit, played 3 games of backgammon and actually took 2 of 3 from him. The first one, I lost, was classic Dave. I had 3 pieces left, Dave had 4 pieces. It was his turn, so the only way I could lose, based on how he had them spread out on the board was double 6's. Bingo, Dave rolls double 6's to win (" Box Cars", I believe he exclaimed). I then was traveling in Atlanta after Little Rock, so I only got back into town last night, Wed (5/2). I immediately went to go visit Dave. I arrived as your parents and Dave were finishing dinner in the cafeteria. We sat and chatted there for awhile as I filled them in on Anne and Joe's awesome wedding. We then headed back to his room, and your parents said goodnight. I stayed and climbed into bed next to Dave. What I couldn't get over was in the week I was gone, how much more he was talking. We watched the Pittsburgh- Buffalo Hockey game, and he was naming the players. After that we saw highlights on ESPN of baseball. He was naming players there. Refered to Dion Sanders as "Primetime". I mentioned I was going to call my wife, Marni and tell her where I was, and he said "Marni". I talked some in the third person, as I often did with him, and he would repeated several times one of my nicknames in the same slur he always did " "Willllie". It was awesome. One way conversations are no longer. I really felt as I lied there next to him we were talking with each other. I stayed probably for 2 hours, and as I was leaving, he told me he wanted the "movie". He said, "Legends of the Fall". As I closed him in, and set up the movie, he pointed. I thought he was pointing at a jacket that was hanging over the edge. Trying to tell me it was mine. I picked it up and said, " No, Dave, this is yours" and held it up to show him. At that point, he pointed again, and said "lights... off". I felt like an idiot. I made a few comments about my superior ability to understand, and he laughed. Jay, it took me back to the night, Marni and I went to the steak house for dinner with him. As he got into bed, he wanted something off his shelf, and after about 5 attempts at bringing him the wrong thing, we finally got him what he wanted, his deodorant. But this time, he just said it, he wanted the lights off. He is REALLY improving and as you all know so well, working so hard at it. Before, I left, I talked to him a bit about being away for a week, and really noticing some big changes in the time I was gone. I wanted him to know, he is making big strides. He really seemed to enjoy the feedback and seemed, well deservedly so, proud of himself. Jay, I can't believe he'll be leaving us soon. It will be brutally tough to see our good buddy leave us, but it will signify another huge notch in the recovery belt and onto the next step. I plan to spend A LOT of time at Craig between now and the 12th. I hope all is well with the wedding plans. Best of luck to you both. Matt (Willie)
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